Real Steel History: The SIG-Sauer P226 pistol was developed as an improved, high capacity version of the P220, especially for the US XM9 trials of 1982-84. The P226 was one of just two pistols that nominally passed all of the technical requirements for these trials, but at the last moment it lost to the other design, the Beretta 92SB-F, on the basis of the overall cost. Despite this, the P226 quickly became one of the most popular service pistols, being used by police, military and security forces, as well as by many civilian shooters, around the world. Initially available in 9mm, it was subsequently adapted to .40 S&W and .357 SIG calibers, which are extremely popular in the USA. In fact, the P226 was the first pistol to be chambered for the .357 SIG, a high velocity, high penetration 9mm cartridge, preferred by many American highway patrol services as well as by the US Security Service.